Diplomats say the United States and the European Union are ready to offer Iran a compromise deal that would permit the Tehran government to carry out one of the early stages of making nuclear fuel, but all actual uranium enrichment would take place in Russia.

Enriched uranium can be used to generate energy or to make nuclear weapons.

Iran says it wants to process its own nuclear fuel to produce electricity. But The United States and Europe accuse Tehran of seeking highly enriched weapons-grade material. Diplomats say moving the enrichment process to Russia would allow international oversight of the process.

Iran has rejected international demands to renounce its right to enrichment, and restarted its conversion process earlier this year.

The International Atomic Energy Agency ruled Tehran is not in compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation treaty. The IAEA board meets later this month (November 24) to consider further action.